Morgan named 14th MSU President

Pictured above from left to right are sitting MSU President Dr. Wayne D. Andrews, Board of Regents Chair Paul C. Goodpaster and incoming President Dr. Joseph (Jay) Morgan.

Credit Morehead State University

Morehead State University’s Board of Regents has announced on March 29 the hiring of Dr. Joseph A. (Jay) Morgan as the institution’s 14th president, after a national search.

“Finding the most qualified person to be the right ‘fit’ to lead Morehead State University in the years ahead was the top priority for all of the Regents,” said Paul C. Goodpaster, Board of Regents chair. “We have found that in Dr. Jay Morgan. The landscape in higher education in Kentucky is changing, and we believe his knowledge and experience, especially with the new performance funding model, will enable him to partner with our faculty, staff, and administration to continue moving the university forward in challenging times and in providing MSU students with an extremely high-quality education.”

Dr. Morgan will succeed President Wayne D. Andrews. Dr. Andrews, who took the helm as the 13th president on Jan. 1, 2005, announced in April 2016 that he would retire on June 30.

“My family and I are honored and excited to become a part of the Morehead State family. It is a tremendous privilege to be selected to lead MSU,” said Dr. Morgan. “I look forward to building on the work of President Andrews, the Board of Regents and the University’s outstanding students, faculty and staff.”

Dr. Morgan’s contract is for a four-year term, beginning July 1, and will be reviewed annually for any extensions. He also will hold the academic rank of professor based on his prior experience.

Dr. Morgan, 45, currently serves as the chief academic officer and vice president for academic affairs and student success for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. He provides leadership for statewide academic affairs, curriculum and programming, academic strategic planning, academic legislative and policy development, admission and enrollment requirements, diversity programming, student success/college readiness initiatives, e-learning, competency-based education, program evaluation and assessment, professional school contract placement, research and innovation, and federal and state grant administration.

Dr. Morgan holds a B.S. degree in agriculture science and business, and an M.S. degree in agriculture science from Murray State University. He earned his Ph.D. degree at Oklahoma State University in agricultural education with a minor in management and significant course work in educational administration.

Prior to Dr. Morgan’s term at the CPE, he served at Murray State University in a number of roles including provost and vice president for academic affairs, associate provost for graduate education and research, graduate program coordinator, and professor. He began teaching at Murray State in 1997. He is also a former high school teacher and coach.

Dr. Morgan also contributed service to a number of university committees and community organizations, including serving as a City Council member, Board Chair of a Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the United Way, and has served as a member of a medical school board of trustees and the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System.

The historic President's residence on campus will become home to the president and his family once necessary preservation renovations are completed.

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